Indulgent Lucie

“Indulgent lucie” started in the basement of future bassist Tones Colonna and drummer John Scinta’s house in Kings Park, NY.

“I knew John through his brother Marc who dabbled with guitar on occasion.” says INDULGENT LUCIE Guitarist/Songwriter Walter Willems.

“So I would go over there and jam with them intermittingly. I was still playing bass at the time. I had this other band or jam partners who were so loose fitting that it had come to the point where the guitar player was borrowing my guitar just so we could play. One night I invited Sandy Iverson down to our rehearsal and Tones Colonna joined him. We weren’t very good but I kept Sandy’s number.

One day, John calls me up and asks me to bring my guitar his roommate bought a bass and wants to jam. I said sure and brought Sandy along who was also their mutual friend. That was how Indulgent lucie was born. We found out pretty quick that trying to play covers wasn’t going to work so I showed them an original which became the song “Dying Alone”.

From that point forward, we were off to the races playing dive bars, clubs, anywhere and everywhere we could play.

As members transitioned out, we replaced them. Singer Patrick Trovato fronted the band for ten years until musical differences caused his departure. “We have nothing but good thoughts about Patrick he was huge integral part of the band’s history.”

As for the original four Members:

Sandy Iverson unfortunately, passed away a few years ago and John Scinta moved down south to start up a business where he now resides with his beautiful family.

“Tones and I haven’t stopped and we are still playing together. Trust me, this never happens in a band.”

With the lineup of Vocalist, Jenn “ZAP” Zapata, Keyboardist, and Drummer John Ludwig we finally think we have the right players in place. We are ready to take on the world. LUCIFY!”

Since and very early age Walter Willems heard music in his head. To the point where writing songs was an everyday occurrence. Growing up in awe of other musicians he was a late bloomer to learning an instrument. “Music was an obsession but more from a fan standpoint at first. I remember thinking these friends’ bands I would support must have thought I was a weirdo. I just loved the idea of being in and playing in, an original band.” He adds.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was obsessed with original music.”

His early influences like most musicians were the Beatles and progressed to The Who. “Pete Townsend remains a huge influence on my writing to this day. Then Van Halen, Rush, and finally The Police who were so impactful that it changed my entire writing style.”

He explains his progression musically.

“I had been playing in various bands, but I could never get the right configuration. At that point I was playing guitar but switched to Bass to find a band quicker. I set out to learn most of the Police’s catalog. I didn’t realize that in general I was acquiring the dexterity to play Jazz and Reggae melodies. By learning each song, my entire playing and writing style changed the way I approach any instrument to this day. It has more to do with feel rather than technical ability.” He laughs.

“This is why the Indulgent Lucie sound became so unique.”

Thinking back, I realize that it’s been a pretty long road traveled with the one and only band that I’ve actually been a member of, Indulgent Lucie. I found myself sharing a house in Kings Park, with drummer John Scinta, friend and one of the original founding members of the band. I had no musical background, never played an instrument other than a tambourine and the plastic flute like thing they call a recorder. I quickly realized that if I’m going to survive living in this house with John and his double kick Pearl drum set, I’d better start making my own noise or resign to spending the evenings with sound deadening earmuffs on my head while he pounded away in the basement. All I could do is watch the plates rattle in the kitchen.

John’s brother Mark used to stop over with his guitar and play through the giant Peavey stack mostly whatever Led Zeppelin song he knew. “Come on Tony, get a bass so we can jam on stuff” John would repeatedly say. Sam Ash, a local music store, had a sale, just under two hundred bucks later I’m finally holding my very first real instrument–a Gibson Epiphone bass guitar. The only problem was I hadn’t a clue how to play it or how it was going to affect my life.

No sooner could I say “Bass lesson”, and who shows up at my front door? Walter Willems along with Sandy Iverson, who I remembered from high school. The way I remember it, it went something like this:

“I heard that Tony plays bass. Sandy sings, and I think we should start a band.”

Just like that, I found myself in an original act, Walt at the helm with his Ibanez ax, Sandy on the mic, John, fully armed and ready to pound his drums. My only problem, I was a lefty trying to figure out my righty bass.

I suppose the “originals” part came from the fact that in the beginning, we could not play any cover songs. I was not much help with that either but Walt had some bass playing background, and a boatload of patience. He began to instruct me on what to do with the bass now firmly hanging from the strap off my right shoulder. Things were now much different.

This is by no means a typical story you would hear from most musicians on how they ended up in a band. I guess it is safe to say that Walter Willems has been one of my greatest influences in music and a rather large factor in what ended up influencing my style of playing. These days, I write my own bass lines.

Walt still breaks out the cattle prod on occasion to give me and our current band mate’s direction.

It’s no surprise John Ludwig wound up playing drum, given his famous drum manufacturer last name. However, he actually started his musical journey playing the clarinet in the school band.

Yet, he had a deep seeded passion to play the drums which was heavily influenced when his father played his large collection of swing jazz records while growing up. “The music would be blasting on the home stereo most weekends.” says John fondly. “I think it’s no surprise that my early influences included jazz drummers: Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.” Later more contemporary influences included Phil Collins and Stewart Copeland.

John started taking private drum lessons at age 14. These lessons proved valuable. A natural style of playing emerged—one that was jazz based and intricate.

“Before joining Indulgent Lucie I played in several original rock bands including: WedgeMusic, Back 2 Back, and Phoenician Minds.”

John is also a skilled drum teacher “I value the process of teaching and find it to be a very rewarding experience especially with beginning students.” He says confidently.

“To this day I love writing out drum music charts to my favorite songs just for fun.”

Veteran Vocalist Jenn Zapata has been singing since a very young age. Growing up she admired and emulated the musical styles of Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Billy Holiday and more recently Joss Stone, Beth Hart and KT Tunstall. Her unique voice is a musical hybrid, joining together elements of Stevie Nicks, Belinda Carlisle, and Bonnie Tyler.

She has been an integral part of several successful local bands including: Love Handle, Wild Child, The Dan Kirouak Band, and most recently Radioplay; all of which were predominately top forty cover bands.

In 2012, she recorded the single, Silver Wishes, which still receives heavy rotation in the New England area and was nominated for song of the year by Limelight Magazine.

“I really started getting “out there” and singing after my son Christopher passed away in 1995,” she explained. “The pain of losing a child was unbearable for me and music was a great outlet to let out my emotions. When I started seeing the audiences reaction to my voice I was touched. It made me feel amazing.” She says barely containing her excitement.

“I put all my heart and soul into everything I do, so that kind of response makes it all worth it.” Her excitement on her future with Indulgent Lucie is apparent.

“Our #1 goal as a band is to transport people away from their difficult everyday lives.”

Lisa Dee began playing piano at the age of 3 years old. She had a strict piano teacher who focused on form and clarity of the notes. By the time she was 18 years old she had written two concertos.

She is a multi-instrumentalist playing both guitar and bass as well.

She Co-hosted “Original voices” open mic night at the Vail Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead NY for six years. In 2011 she launched “Concerts for a Cure” which hopes to raise 1 million dollars in new cancer research and is in the planning stages of her the next fundraising event.

“Growing up I loved classic Rock bands like Pink Floyd and Boston, more recently Dream Theater.”

Saxophonist Neil DeRiggi isn’t your typical musician, “I wanted to be a race car driver all my life.” At age nine however he discovered an interest in the musical side of things at school. “I tried playing woodwind instruments and it came very natural to me so when I moved to the Clarinet I found I was able to get very proficient really fast.

“I was playing Clarinet and the Bass Clarinet for three years when I decided to teach myself Baritone sax at age 12. I think having a hidden talent for playing instruments made me want to become a musician. Sometimes things just present themselves to you and I knew I could do the job confidently.”

Neil chooses not to read notated music (although he can) instead he says “My philosophy being it holds back the potential to feel the notes, rather than just play them. I subscribe to ‘If it sounds right, then it’s right’.” He goes on to describe the first musical experience that inspired him to join a band. “I heard this live rock band with a saxophonist playing loud, He was growling along with this beautiful sound. I had never heard something like that before and I was mesmerized. I decided at that moment I was going to play just like that.”

Neil’s primary instrument is the alto saxophone, occasionally he will play a tenor or baritone sax for flavor. His musical influences are James Carter, Gerald Albright, Gerry Muligan, and the amazing David Sanborn. In the past he has played with Rainbow Trout, The Snot Rockets, and White Ghetto Funk Machine.